Positive Attitude
This is all new to me so I may be redundant. I want to open up the idea of ground rules. If we are to be a forum, we need to establish a basic framework for our communication. The first ground rule I would like to suggest is that we strive at all times to avoid negative campaigning. I define this as pointing fingers and shaking them at or in the face of our critics and/or opponents. That does not mean that we can’t discuss the potential negative impacts of actions or ideas that are proposed by ourselves or by any others but it does require us to refrain from “going negative” in our approach.
Why? To keep the power in our own pocket and not empower the “others.” If we talk about “them” in specific and negative terms, we will give voice to “their” positions. We maximize our voice when we speak only for our own positions and refrain from speaking about the positions of others. If this makes any sense, let me know. If it sounds out-of-bounds let me know that too.
I want us to be successful and productive.
Looking at your bio, I would have to disagree with your statement that one would have to lie, cheat and steal to compete against your opponents. I have had success in politics without those things, it does takes time, patience and right effort.
You are right about the need to avoid being negative but as an actually ground rule it may be unnecessary. It has been my experience on forums like this that not allowing certain types of speech, even negative ones, tend to cause more harm than the negative speech itself.
I have found that continuous dialog amoung writers and readers can correct negative speech when it come up. The truth is negative speech and campaigning works and is very effective. The reason is because so few people are willing to speak up in a positive manner when others choose to go negative. Like dealing with hate or intolerance in a community, it takes a similar, active community effort to take on negativity in our actions and speech on a politcal forum or on the campaign trail.
I have to agree with Le. Negative ads at least give rise to discussion, and more than likely if you’re reading this blog, you are knowledgeable enough to decipher truth from slander. I think calling politicians out on their mistakes and giving the person a chance to explain their actions would be effective.
Let’s get real. Many politicians do lie, cheat, and steal, but that’s because their people, not politicians. There are good people out there too. We just have to find and praise them.
But to discourage any type of feelings would probably, like Le said, be more harmful than letting people say how they feel.
Now, we do want sources to back up people’s claims.